On a sign post during a stopover in Cheviot.
COMPARISON OBS PLZ LEAVE AT GENUS LEVEL.
Comparison between:
Vespula vulgaris QUEEN.
V. vulgaris WORKER.
V. germanica WORKER.
For comparison with:
V. germanica QUEEN see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/35298484
For the two different QUEENS side by side see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/42534542
Complete set of castes germanica vs vulgaris see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/42536795
Complete set of germanica castes see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/42536794
Complete set of vulgaris castes see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/41663384
For ID of Vespula MALES see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/42040174
Also (with dissection):
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/116510663
For ID of Vespula WORKERS see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/41667758
And:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/69245344
For germanica QUEEN and MALE mating see:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/42534531
My favourite little parasite this season:
There were at least 2 individuals of this small braconid wasp stalking the green vegetable bugs on the Cleome in my garden. (Were they first discovered in NZ by you, Stephen?)
The first one (photos 1-7) quite obviously was successful in parasitising a bug, but the second one (photos 8-17) was never quite able to connect, despite a number of attempts.
It was fascinating to watch the behaviour. Mostly the wasps managed to stay behind the bugs, and so out of sight. However, occassionally they were rumbled and then got short shrift from the Nezara.
a hitchhiker.
i have drawn on this pic to prevent theft. it is one of the only pics i have ever taken worth stealing i think.
This male must have patiently waited while a female laid a perfect batch of eggs onto his back! Not a very common sight.
Wasp was found dragging the paralysed or dead spider across the gravel cyclepath. Wasp became defensive of its prey when I approached: it released the spider and walked towards me with wings extended.
Spider observation at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68570567
Bank of the Oakley Creek, Point Chevalier/Westmere, Auckland 1026. Still alive, and seemingly intact, but sitting inactive on a cocoon of Dinocampus coccinellae.
Flew down and landed on the screen. I quickly searched for the species so it could be with its kin ;-)
Day 82, one individual.
Relacionado con // Related to:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667158
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667199
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2667420
2nd photo taken 24 hours after the first photo, eggs hatched this morning. Video https://youtu.be/DuV8TObcXMo
This is the male that goes with the female and larva, pupa stages of this mosquito
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/34195726
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/34054522
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/33690323